[benjiboy]

Well, I am new to the smart phone revolution and a friend of mine had an older Blackberry laying around so I thought I would try it out. Can anyone tell me what model this is?? No touch screen and no camera which sucks but my Razr broke and I need another decent phone soon.
Also, I am having the most difficult time with the battery cover to get my sim card in the phone; can anyone give some tips? I've searched around the forums and it seems no matter what method I try it will not budge.

[NJBlackBerry]

Find the Options icon, then select About.

It will tell you what model you have.

And no current BlackBerrys have touch screens. How Palm like..

The battery cover normally has a button on it you press to release it.

[John Clark]

That is an 8700 (an 8700c if it's ann AT&T/Cingular branded device.)

[NJBlackBerry]

That's what I thought too, but better to check.

[benjiboy]

Thanks for the help! I can't seemt to find an options menu but at the home screen I have icons for: Messgaes, Phone, Address Book, Calendar, Blackberry Setup, Media, Push to Talk, Applications, Profiles, Keyboard Lock, Help, and Turn Wireless on/off.

I do see a button-like square on the back of the phone but have tried gentle pressure as well as coercive pressure and everything in between but cannot get the cover off.

[NJBlackBerry]

That's the right way to remove the cover. Press on the release (the square button) and slid the cover down. It should work.

Can't help telling you where the Options icon is. It should look like a wrench.

[NCBuckeye]

Not really that old school.

[NJBlackBerry]

It doesn't even have a touch screen

[rjw3000]

From the main screen, press and hold the alt key and push in the track wheel, there should be an option to Show All. Now see if there is an options icon.

The easiest way I find to get off the battery door on the 8700 is to push in the button with one hand and then press your other thumb about the middle of the door and slide it down.

The 8700 isn't really that old, now if you need a somewhat old school device, I have a 6230 sitting around with nothing to do.

[John Clark]

Originally Posted by benjiboy

Thanks for the help! I can't seemt to find an options menu but at the home screen I have icons for: Messgaes, Phone, Address Book, Calendar, Blackberry Setup, Media, Push to Talk, Applications, Profiles, Keyboard Lock, Help, and Turn Wireless on/off.

Sometimes it's in a folder. The AT&T theme has folders in it with stuff hidden in the folders. Look for settings or options, etc. I never use that theme (it's not even loaded on my device)

[mark0341]

Once I gave an old BB to a friend to try. Just before they got the BB. I Super Glued the battery cover. It was loads of fun watching them. After a while of them trying. I would pull out my BB and show them how easy it was to remove the cover. Then walking away I would say don't give you'll get the hang of it. Man that made for some good laughs.

[benjiboy]

:::SARCASM:::: Sorry everyone I havn't kept myself up to date on the latest cell phone technology. I use mine to make phone calls... I guess I should do some pre-research before coming to an online forum to do research.
Thanks for the help though, I honestly had no clue Blackberry's don't have touch screens and judging from what I was told by my friend I thought this was an older model.

I'll play around with the themes and get to know this phone a little better. I still have not mastered the art of removing the battery cover. I think I'll let AT&T screw with that tomorrow.

[aiharkness]

Wirelessly posted (8700g: BlackBerry8700/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

EDIT. Also, I have to press the release tab very hard on my 8700g to remove the cover. Press very hard on the tab and at same time with other hand slide the cover downward.

Welcome to the blackberry family, benjiboy! This is a good group. The love is a little tough sometimes, but it is love all the same.

And check out those links in John's sig, the second two first.

That 8700 is a solid machine.

[benjiboy]

Thanks, I understand how things go. No harm done.

Mark that trick is sinister but I like it!

Now, I told my friend I wanted to wait and get my sim card in the phone before I bought it from him and we never talked pricing. How much would this be worth? I would give the physical apperance (scratches etc.) a weak 7 out of 10.

[NJBlackBerry]

Check the Buy / Sell / Trade section (and eBay - carefully) for recent sales.
That's what I would do..

[benjiboy]

Originally Posted by mark0341

Once I gave an old BB to a friend to try. Just before they got the BB. I Super Glued the battery cover. It was loads of fun watching them. After a while of them trying. I would pull out my BB and show them how easy it was to remove the cover. Then walking away I would say don't give you'll get the hang of it. Man that made for some good laughs.

Is this a common occurance? Because I just found out the reason the back wouldn't come off for me or the AT&T reps...

[mark0341]

Wirelessly posted (8830 WORLD EDITION (ALLTEL): BlackBerry8830/4.2.2 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/106)

The battery door on my 8830 was very hard to open. The first couple times I couldn't do it. Then I got pissed pushed on the door so hard I thought I might bust it. I finally got it to work. I now like the fact that it is nice and tight. My 8703e had a battery door that rattled when I got call. Made the phone sound cheap. BlackBerry's have been the best phones I have ever owned. I hope the battery door works out for you.

[benjiboy]

Mine was glued on. I just went for bust and pryed it, pulled it, and it finally came off. One tab on the side broke but, at least for now, it seems to hold up.

But I love this phone for the little amount of time I've used it.

[aiharkness]

Seriously? And your friend did this to you? And you are buying the blackberry?